The objective of poker is to win the pot. You can do this by having the best hand or by convincing the other players that you have the best hand and force them to drop out.

Poker Hands
A poker hand is made from the best arrangement of five cards and
are ranked as follows, highest first:

Royal
Flush
Straight Flush
Four-of-a-Kind
Full House
Flush
Straight
Three-of-a-Kind
Two Pair
Pair
No Pair

A-K-Q-J-10,
all same suit
Any five consecutive cards, all same suit
Four cards, same value (eg. four 7's)
Three-of-a-Kind and a Pair
Any five cards of the same suit
Any five consecutive cards
Three cards, same value
Two Pairs
A Pair
Five dissimilar cards, mixed suit

Seven Card
Stud
Seven card stud is one of the most detailed and complicated of all
poker games because of the sheer number of hands that can be made
from seven cards. In addition to its complexity, it can be a very
expensive game, having five betting rounds, each involving potential
raises and reraises. Because three cards are hidden, the other players'
hands are difficult to compute. This adds to the game's volatility
and the roller-coaster effects on your bankroll.

The game begins
with each player being dealt two cards face down. These are called
hole cards. A third card is dealt face up. In games with antes,
the person with the highest face-up card starts the betting. He
can make a wager or he can check (indicate he won't make a wager
but will remain to see if anyone else bets) or he can fold. All
players will have the opportunity to match or raise the total bet
as the play goes around the table. Or they can fold.

When the betting
finishes, a second round is dealt face up. Now, the best two-card
hand initiates the betting. Another round of raises and reraises
ensues.

A third round
is dealt face up with the same procedure as before.

Now, a fourth
round is dealt face-up with the same procedure as before.

On the fifth
round of play, the card is dealt face down. The final round of betting
begins. Al the remaining players now have four cards face up and
three cards in the hole. The player has to make the best five-card
poker hand out of his seven cards.

Texas Hold'Em
Like seven card stud, Texas hold'em is a game where you have to
make the best five-card poker hand out of seven cards, However,
the similarity ends there because in hold'em all players share five
face-up cards.

The round begins
with one player designated as the dealer and the two players to
his left putting up blinds of a predetermined amount. The cards
are dealt beginning with the player to the immediate left of the
designated dealer (the big blind). Every player is given two cards
face down. The player to the left of the blind now decides whether
to see the blind, raise, or fold. All players take turns doing so
in a clockwise fashion.

When the betting
is over, the dealer will "flop" three cards face up in
the center of the table. Now another betting round ensues. Next,
the dealer will turn over a single card face up with another betting
round following. Finally, the dealer will turn over a seventh card
and the final round of betting takes place

The player who
has the best five-card hand using his cards and the board cards
wins.

Author; Frank
Scoblete
Content provided by Frank Scoblete, the number one best-selling
casino gaming writer in the world. His books and tapes have sold
over a million copies. His website is www.scoblete.com at RGT Online
gaming. His books and tapes are available through our book store,
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